Mark Maynard | 2003 | December

business

By Mark | December 22, 2003

I just stumbled on what I think might be a pretty interesting blog. The site, called How to Save the World, seems to be run by a Canadian business consultant who leans toward the left. Heres a clip from his most recent posting:

Before we can restore the upbeat 1990s business climate, two things need to happen:

We need to oust the Bush regime, and replace it with a government that encourages innovation, entrepreneurialism and small business, instead of corporatism, oligopoly, and more rights for corporations than for consumers.

We need a citizen-consumer rebellion against corporatism, and against businesses who lie to customers, sue customers, sell poor quality, uninnovative products, mistreat employees, offshore jobs, and are socially and environmentally irresponsible. That rebellion will produce both changes in spending habits and new laws.

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people, places and things

By Mark | December 21, 2003

Linette and I have been really busy this weekend; bathing the dog, baking bread, shopping, wrapping gifts, cleaning house, writing holiday cards and all the rest of it. Somehow, in there with everything else, we also found the time to go out and make new friends. Thursday night, we met up with Steve Cherry and Hillary Blough, fellow bloggers from here in Ypsi. We had a few drinks and talked about blogs, local politics, and what we as active Ypsi-ites could do to help guide the growth of our beloved little town. It was fun.

I dont know if anything will come of it, but, as a result of that meeting, Im thinking of calling together a blue ribbon commission on the future of Ypsilanti. Right now, Im thinking that the five Ypsi bloggers should all be involved (me, Steve, Hillary, Leighton and Laura), as well as Jennifer from Henrietta Fahrenheit and a few other folks. The best-case scenario is that we form a kind of shadow government that controls Ypsi. Ill keep you posted.

I just heard that the terrorism threat level has been raised to orange for the holidays. As thats the case, Im going to confess something to you. A few days ago, I was caught singing the theme to the Golden Girls as I stood at a urinal. As I zipped up and turned around, I noticed that there was a man standing behind me. He was kind enough to pretend that he hadnt heard me signing out, thank you for being a friend, but it was clear that hed witnessed the spectacle of a 35 year old, bearded man standing with his penis in his hand and singing the Golden Girls theme with carefree abandon.

I need to go work on our Christmas cards now, but, before I go, I want to tell you about this cool site called Fuck you and your H2. It features a collection of photos that people have taken of themselves giving the finger to H2s and their drivers. Its a fucking brilliant piece of activism.

Heres hoping that none of us die in terrorist attacks over the course of the next few days.

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another mm.com reader feels compelled to write

By Mark | December 21, 2003

after I ask her to.

About a year ago, I had an extraordinary experience: while researching a sidebar to an essay I had sold the New York Daily News, I stumbled onto MarkMaynard.com and the world of blogs. It was like falling down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland. I had no idea there could be anyone else in the world who questioned the custom of blowing germs all over the food about to be served to birthday guests, who worried about the same things I do, who has OCD, as I do. Better, Mark was smart, creative, well informed, hilarious, astute and a writer. A darned entertaining one, at that.

Mr. And Mrs. Maynard, if you’re reading this, I hope you know that Mark takes a lot of care to protect his family and his job. Readers are treated only to the most general information on these topics. Few writers act so judiciously. (I don’t, and I write professionally.) Mark seldom mentions you online, but when he does, it is with affection.

You would probably be proud if you knew all his achievements.

Markmaynard.com has received several ecstatic mentions in USA Today. It’s garnered favorable citation elsewhere, as well. Your son is a sought-after interview in the Detroit area. For what it may be worth, his band has enjoyed a number of successes, commercial and critical. (You know about the band, right?)

Mark cares very much what you think of him and his endeavors. I told him no parent needs a letter from a stranger to encourage pride in his or her child. But Mark wanted to hedge his bets.

Thank you for your attention.

Happy holidays to you both,
Chelsea Lowe